Tag Archives: Product Design

A Charming LEGO Popcorn Machine + More LEGO Builds To Try At Home

Posted on by

As a child, I loved sitting and spending hours excruciatingly and lovingly building little LEGO block structures. But, watching my sister bump into them, causing them to fall apart completely was truly heartbreaking. We all have heartwarming memories associated with LEGO blocks from our childhood, as well as the not-so-heartwarming ones of stepping on them with our feet and feeling an insane amount of pain shoot up our legs. Despite these wonderful childhood memories, LEGO is no longer considered child’s play! Master builders, artists, and LEGO enthusiasts all over the world are creating impressive LEGO builds that’ll blow your minds away. They are a result of their hours of dedication, attention to detail, hard work, and creativity. And we’ve put together some mindblowing LEGO builds that recently took our breath away! From a LEGO Antique Chandelier to a LEGO Popcorn Machine – these LEGO builds are gonna get LEGO lovers drooling over them.

1. LEGO Popcorn Machine

This Popcorn Machine by Dimexart is created from LEGO! It resembles the iconic popcorn machine you typically find in movie theaters. The machine features a glorious retro style and is built using 955 pieces. The popcorn is also built using LEGO bricks, and the kernel pops out of the machine’s built-in kettle, slides down the ramp, and falls into the popcorn bucket.

2. LEGO “The Moon: Earth’s Companion”

This unique and fan-made creation is built using 2360 bricks and it is a celebration of the beauty and glory of the moon. Called, the LEGO Art space poster “The Moon: Earth’s Companion”, this brick-built Moon features realistic craters and terrains and is made with an impressive amount of attention to detail.

3. Mechanical Flip Calendar

Dubbed the Mechanical Flip Calendar, this LEGO build by ‘Sariels Bricks and Pets’ is designed to explore the beauty of bricks while recreating complex mechanical linkages and interactions. The LEGO build features three flip-down elements that represent the month and date, while the calendar allows you to manually change the display every day by rotating the dials on the side.

4. The LEGO Magic Maze

The LEGO Magic Maze is an immersive game that provides hours of fun. The game is quite simple, yet super fascinating, it basically involves guiding a marble through a challenging playing field by skillfully tilting the set, while navigating past treacherous holes and obstacles.

5. The LEGO Antique Chandelier

The LEGO Antique Chandelier looks like something from an old Victorian mansion. It pays tribute to the traditional chandelier with its near-realistic appearance. It measures 16 inches long and weighs 17.8 ounces or half a kilogram. Sadly, it doesn’t light up, but LEGO builder DallasBricks’ had to sacrifice that to ensure the build looks exactly like a chandelier.

6. LEGO Insect Collection

LEGO launched its newest Insect Collection which was originally conceived by LEGO fan José Maria from Spain. Maria submitted the design to LEGO Ideas, where it received over 10,000 votes, and was later converted into a real collection. To celebrate the launch, LEGO also unveiled a little surprise – an ASMR “Green Noise” playlist to accompany the collection.

7. LEGO Quidditch Trunk

This LEGO Quidditch Trunk isn’t LEGO’s most complex Harry Potter build, but it is definitely quite entertaining. It is a 599-brick build and is accompanied by a comprehensive Quidditch setup which includes players, brooms, hoops, and a launcher that allows you to shoot disc-shaped quaffles through the hoops.

8. LEGO Piranha Plant

LEGO has transformed the Piranha Plant from the Super Mario Landscape into an adorable little desk accessory for all the Mario fans out there. The plant is built using 540 bricks, and it stands tall at 9 inches. It features a moveable jaw, adjustable head, positionable leaves, and two golden coins that can be dropped into the plant’s pipe!

9. LEGO Tower Chess

Ferbrick1’s Tower Chess LEGO build disguises a board game as home decor! The chessboard is cleverly designed and it is morphed into a castle tower. It stores the chess pieces in built-in racks, and the board wraps around to form the tower’s brick facade! Nobody would guess that an entire chess set is hidden underneath!

10. LEGO FedEx Truck

FedEx’s 50th anniversary is soon approaching, and it boasts an inspiring workforce of over 500,000 employees, a fleet of 700+ aircraft, and 200,000 vehicles. And to commemorate the massive company, architect and full-time LEGO fan David Clavijo has built FedEx’s iconic truck using LEGO bricks!

The post A Charming LEGO Popcorn Machine + More LEGO Builds To Try At Home first appeared on Yanko Design.

Interstellar LUNAR1,622 watch lets you carry a piece of the moon in style

Posted on by

The night sky is full of beauty and marvel, but nothing evokes images of romance and mystery more than our faithful companion, the Moon. A celestial body that has given birth to many myths and legends since ancient days, the Moon has always been a source of fascination for both artists and scientists alike. Thanks to recent space explorations, interest in the stars has been at an all-time high, whether it’s just traveling in space in luxury or setting up colonies on the Moon and Mars. Space and beyond is no longer just science fiction but a part of our history, and what better way to preserve and honor that history than with a timeless watch that puts the elegance and mystery of the moon on your wrist.

Designer: Sebastien Colen

Click Here to Buy Now: $599 $849 ($250 off). Hurry, less than 72 hours left! Raised over $420,000.

The Moon is our lone satellite and the closest celestial body to our home planet, yet there are still many things about it that beguile and confound scientists. The dark side of the moon that we never get to see from Earth has always been a source of mystery and even omens, especially considering how much the Moon can actually influence life on the planet. Still, the Moon feels near yet so far, but this luxurious watch puts it right on your wrist, with a small yet significant nod to history and a tribute to mankind’s achievements, both past and future.

Meteorite Moon Dust – Their meteorite, with the ID#NWA11515, was found in 2017 and provided by MSG Meteorites, a British company specialized in certified space rocks and licensed by the IMCA (International Meteorite Collectors Association).

Lunar1,622 Watch with Integrated NASA Logo – The project respects the necessary permissions and aligns with NASA’s guidelines.

Named after the surface gravity on the Moon, the LUNAR1,622 is a handsome mechanical watch that goes beyond simply putting the face of the moon on the timepiece. Just like the previous Mars-inspired Interstellar timepiece, it holds a relic of the moon, specifically a small amount of moon dust at the three o’clock position (the standard model gets the footprint shape of Neil Armstrong instead). This moon dust was taken from rare lunar meteorites, specifically the Moon Meteorite ID# NWA11515 that was found in 2017 in Northwest Africa. The back of the watch also boasts the official NASA logo, which would delight space exploration fans even more. There will only be 2025 Premium editions made, in honor of the next lunar mission Artemis 3 in that year.

LUNAR1,622 commemorates Neil Armstrong’s iconic words, “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

On the edge of the dial all the way around it, you’ll find all successful Apollo missions numbered. All missions that landed on the moon are marked in gold.

Commemorating the historic Apollo 11 mission, this timepiece features the mission’s name, date and Neil Armstrong’s initials.

Of course, the Interstellar LUNAR1,622 isn’t just a one-of-a-kind science collectible, it is also a piece of horology craftsmanship as well. Both Standard and Advanced models bear the famed Miyota automatic movement, while the Premium variant boasts a Swiss Sellita automatic movement, both delivering the precision and reliability expected from high-quality mechanical watches. Sandblasted 316L stainless steel cases (titanium for the Premium model), in classic Black or stylish Silver, give the watch both durability and finesse, while the black leather strap accentuates its luxurious character. The LUNAR1,622’s subtle elegance perfectly embodies the timeless beauty of the Moon, captivating without being overwhelming.

NFC Technology

Whether you’re a space buff, a horology connoisseur, or an avant-garde collector, there is perhaps nothing more beautiful and mystical than having the moon on your wrist, quite literally even. Inspired by lunar expeditions and carrying a pinch of authentic moon dust inside, the Interstellar LUNAR1,622 is more than just a beautiful and historic timepiece, it is also a testament to humanity’s ambitions to reach for the stars and our perseverance to make that dream a reality.

Click Here to Buy Now: $599 $849 ($250 off). Hurry, less than 72 hours left! Raised over $420,000.

The post Interstellar LUNAR1,622 watch lets you carry a piece of the moon in style first appeared on Yanko Design.

Innovative Document Folder transforms into an All-in-one Stand for your Laptop, Tablet, and Phone

Posted on by

Ever propped your iPad against a pile of books? Or placed your laptop on top of a stationery box to angle it for easier typing? The folks at PUNCUBE Gear have a rather nifty solution that hides in plain sight. The Puncube Workelf is, for all intents and purposes, a document folder for organizing and holding all your important paperwork… but its design allows it to also transform into a laptop stand, an iPad stand, a phone mount, and even a writing pad. While the paper folder has remained unchanged for nearly a hundred years, the Puncube Workelf gives it a subtle update that allows it to integrate well into our digital-first age, while still being a reliable document holder.

Designer: Sunny Cheung

Click Here to Buy Now: 3 for $59 $117 (50% off). Hurry, only 87/150 left!

The Puncube Workelf is a clever reminder that tech won’t entirely replace stationery, but rather the two must coexist peacefully and symbiotically. It’s about as slim as your binder/folder that holds printouts and other documents, and comes with a unique flap-based design that lets it shapeshift into a multi-angle stand for not one, but all your portable devices. With 8 different ‘modes’ to choose from, the Puncube Workelf alternates between being a paper-holder to mounting your laptop, tablet, and smartphone, while also serving as a clipboard, display stand, book-holder, and a slanted stand for sketching/drawing either on paper or a tablet PC.

It all boils down to the Puncube Workelf’s rather clever design, which relies on its material structure, a fair bit of origami, and clever detailing to really create a modern utilitarian piece of stationery. When shut, the Puncube Workelf looks just like your regular A4 folder. It holds A4 documents inside it with the help of a metal clamp, and even fits right into your office shelf or folder-holder for easy access. It weighs a mere 290 grams, making it perfect to carry around under your arm or in your backpack.

Laptop Stand

iPad Stand

Slant Board

Phone Stand

Book Stand

Document Folder

When you need something a little more than paper-holder, the Puncube Workelf opens up into a world of possibilities. It transforms into an angled laptop holder that props your device up at a cool 30° angle, giving you an ergonomic elevation that raises the laptop screen to your eye level to reduce neck strain, as well as tilting the keyboard towards you so it’s easier to type. The laptop stand format also works for a drawing pad or for a tablet where you want to doodle/draw or write on, but if you’re looking for a more traditional tablet dock, the Workelf transforms into an easel for your iPad, holding it up at a cool 60°. Cutout fins in the Puncube Workelf pop out to hold your iPad up at a perfect viewing angle for video calls or for viewing content, and if you’ve got a smaller device like a smartphone, the Workelf has a smaller set of cutout fins for your phone too!

The Workelf’s shapeshifting design allows it to achieve as many as 5 different angles, including a fully vertical one. The three-paneled format of the folder lets it practically stand up vertically, allowing you to prop your documents up to read on cue. The same metal clasp that holds your papers also works as a ‘lip’ or holder for your laptop when the Workelf’s used in laptop stand mode.

White Board

The Puncube Workelf comes in a variety of 6 colors to choose from, and even has the option of adding a clip-on whiteboard accessory to it that you can use to jot down ideas or make temporary notes/schematics that you can then wipe down for a fresh start. The all-in-one folder and gadget stand starts at $39 for one unit, although it’s best bought in bundles with a 3-pack costing $59, allowing you to easily set up your entire workstation on it, with your laptop, tablet, and phone.

Click Here to Buy Now: 3 for $59 $117 (50% off). Hurry, only 87/150 left!

The post Innovative Document Folder transforms into an All-in-one Stand for your Laptop, Tablet, and Phone first appeared on Yanko Design.

Belkin’s Newest 15W 2-in-1 BoostCharge Pro MagSafe Stand Has a Contemporary Look

Posted on by

The iPhone 15-era refresh of Belkin’s 2-in-1 BoostCharge Pro MagSafe charger stand is arriving next week, and (right off the bat) it’s a smooth, stylish mix of contemporary sand (or charcoal) elements complemented by a sort of organic minimalism. In a departure from previous Belkin MagSafe chargers, this compact silicone charging stand incorporates soft, round shapes on both the charger base as well as a new flip-up 15W MagSafe pad. That means it can fit in any modern space, like a living room or a bedroom with a lot of similar organic elements, like stone walls and wooden furniture.

Designer: Belkin (via Apple)

The flip-up design on the top pad allows the Belkin charger to show off the iPhone 15’s screen while StandBy mode is engaged, turning your new iPhone into a piece of room decor like a stationary clock. That same design even lets you adjust the angle of the top pad between 0 and 70 degrees, and of course, you can rotate your iPhone to lay vertically or horizontally on the pad itself while the phone charges.

You can stick your Apple Watch Series 9 (or any other fast-charging Apple Watch, like the Ultra 2) on the second fast-charging pad behind the base, and together the whole thing ends up looking like a really elegant piece of art, adding ambiance rather than sitting around like a high-tech paperweight. Its non-slip base can also help keep it rooted firmly in place during an event such as an earthquake — or an accidental collision between the BoostCharge Pro and a household pet.

Belkin’s new BoostCharge Pro MagSafe chargers for Apple’s newest lineup of iPhone 15s (though iPhone 14s also work with it!) are officially set to release on November 7, alongside the all-new Apple M3 computers announced on October 30. In the box, you’ll find an included 5 ft USB-C cable and 30W USB-C power supply to plug the charger into. You can currently view the new chargers on Apple’s web store, where their $129.95 MSRP is already displayed. It doesn’t seem like either the charcoal or sand colorways are pre-orderable at the moment, though more retail options will become available — including, presumably, from the Belkin store — once the charger officially releases on November 7.

The post Belkin’s Newest 15W 2-in-1 BoostCharge Pro MagSafe Stand Has a Contemporary Look first appeared on Yanko Design.

Logitech G Yeti Orb Is a Plug-and-Play LIGHTSYNC-Compatible Condenser Mic

Posted on by

Adorning your home office/PC gaming setup with Logitech’s lineup of LIGHTSYNC RGB products is an honorable goal on its own. But if you already own a LIGHTSYNC keyboard, mouse, headphones, and computer speakers (to be fair, I really love those G560s!), you’re probably dedicated to the bit by this point. Good news: it’s time to expand your RGB setup yet again. Even if you already have those aforementioned accessories — which work remarkably well together, producing quite the lightshow when synced with in-game visuals via the Logitech G Hub software — you’re still going to need a microphone for your desk. And that’s where Logitech’s newest array of LIGHTSYNC-equipped Yeti microphones comes in.

The Logitech G Yeti Orb — and, separately, the Yeti GX — are Logitech’s newest desktop mics, ditching the old Blue brand in favor of Logitech G. Both use cardioid pickup patterns, which is optimal for recording a single speaker, but the Orb is a condenser mic whereas the GX is a fancier dynamic mic, and the latter is a bit more expensive as a result. That said, it sounds like no matter which of the two you get, Logitech’s newest microphones are gorgeous thanks to their LIGHTSYNC RGB integration, and both are easy to install and set up thanks to their reliance on a single USB-C cable.

Designer: Logitech

The Yeti Orb condenser mic is the lower-priced of the two new Logitech mics, and… it’s quite cute. The rather small, orb-shaped microphone stands upright on its packed-in mini tripod, making it perfect to stick on top of a desk alongside a laptop. The mic design itself is cut in two by a matte ring, which features the RGB-backlit “G” letter candidly positioned on top. According to Logitech, this is a carbon neutral design, made with “a minimum of 74% certified post-consumer recycled plastic by weight.” Moreover, Logitech claims the packaging itself is sustainably sourced from FSC-certified forests.

Several reviews of the Yeti Orb condenser mic indicate the audio quality on it is notably clear for the price, with Tom’s Hardware calling out its budget-friendliness at an MSRP of $59.99. The software itself sounds easy to use, especially if you’re already familiar with Logitech G Hub. All you need to do is plug it in, and then you can get started customizing your lighting and audio preferences. It even comes with several voice presets through the integrated BLUE VO!CE mode, which gives you control over the Yeti Orb’s acoustic calibration — even allowing you to do silly things, like apply special effects to make your voice sound extra deep or ethereal.

The post Logitech G Yeti Orb Is a Plug-and-Play LIGHTSYNC-Compatible Condenser Mic first appeared on Yanko Design.

This LEGO Snow Globe with the Lo-Fi Girl inside is Peak Holiday Wholesomeness!

Posted on by

It’s truly amazing what people can do with the right combination of LEGO bricks. From building Bugattis to functioning calendars, the bricks have an unmatched versatility, and just in time for the holidays, LEGO-builder BrickAbe came up with yet another perfect LEGO project – a functioning snow-globe! The cherry on the cake, however, is that this snow globe also features YouTube’s most well-known fictional character, the anime girl from the LoFi Girl YouTube channel, known for her endless streams of great downtempo music.

Designer: BrickAbe

The Lo-Fi Girl Snowglobe is an interactive mechanical toy that features elements of Christmas along with the popular LoFi girl character, seen writing in a notebook with headphones on, with a laptop and a lazy ginger cat becoming a standard fixture in the background. BrickAbe’s globe captures these elements beautifully, turning the album art into a full LEGO-based diorama with a ground and first floor. The first floor becomes LoFi girl’s study, while the ground floor transforms into a living room during Christmas season, complete with gifts, and a decked up Christmas tree that rotates when you crank the lever outside!

The entire construction is incredibly wholesome, capturing the Christmas spirit in a rather adorable way. The diorama sits on a red platform that comes with its own Yuletide motifs, including stockings and presents, while being covered with a clear bell jar that is capped off with a snowflake on top!

“My greatest escape with Lo-Fi Hip Hop comes around the holidays. I feel very relaxed sitting next to a glowing fireplace, under a warm blanket, with Lo-Fi music playing in the background,” BrickAbe mentioned. “The idea for the snow globe came from a drawing I made a while back for #lofigirlchristmas. You can see this drawing displayed right above the fireplace. I created a charming loft apartment inside, decorated with holiday joy and Lofi Girl references!”

The post This LEGO Snow Globe with the Lo-Fi Girl inside is Peak Holiday Wholesomeness! first appeared on Yanko Design.

Ergonomically Designed Dining Chair Is All Set To Transform Your Dinner Table Seating Experience

Posted on by

We often underestimate the importance of a great chair. When in reality, we really shouldn’t. We spend the majority of our day sitting on chairs, whether we’re working in our home office, enjoying a meal, or simply sitting and reading a book for leisure! Hence, this piece of furniture needs to be not only comfortable but ergonomic and aesthetic as well. An excellent chair design is not only a boon to your back and helps you maintain a healthy posture, but is also super comfy to sink into and will perfectly match the interiors of your modern home. And, this is also applicable to dining chairs, which are often ignored when it comes to ergonomics. A well-designed and ergonomic dining chair to consider would be – the Noho Move dining chair.

Designer: Formway for Noho

Design studio Formway teamed up with the brand Noho to create the ergonomically sound dining chair called the Noho Move. Both the New Zealand-based brands collaborated to create a chair that can support and facilitate hours of sitting. “Our brief was to bring ergonomic performance to the dining room — that isn’t really something anyone has done before,” said Formway design lead Paul Stevenson.

The studio Formway has previously designed office chairs for Knoll, hence they were well-versed in designing ergonomic chairs. They also researched how humans can sit for hours at the dining table, to finally create the Noho Move which is an excellent seating option not only for eating but also for work and leisure. The chair is designed to support a wide range of movements such as stretching, fidgeting, and shifting. When you sit on the chair, and comfortably lean back, the back of the Noho Move flexes with you, and when you incline or move ahead to speak to someone, it tilts forward with you.

The chair is built using a recycled nylon shell which is quite flexible, so it moves with the body. The open weave structure of the chair regulates body temperature, creating a comfortable seating experience for sitters. It is available in two color options – Ironsand Black and Cloud White, with the choice to opt for interchangeable upholstery toppers that are made from sustainably sourced New Zealand wool.

The post Ergonomically Designed Dining Chair Is All Set To Transform Your Dinner Table Seating Experience first appeared on Yanko Design.

Meet The Strongest Belt Ever Made – The Indestructible Belt By Vollebak

Posted on by

Vollebak is known for its ground-breaking and absolutely mindblowing designs such as the Indestructible Puffer which is built from the same material as body armor or the Deep Sleep Cocoon that can lull you to sleep on Mars and Earth! In lieu of their ingenious and highly successful designs, Vollebak has also launched the Indestructible Belt. Right off the bat, they’re claiming that the Indestructible Belt is the strongest belt ever made! Color us intrigued! It is designed to be not only a true marvel in engineering but also a major fashion statement that will definitely grab eyeballs.

Designer: Vollebak

The Indestructible Belt is built with the ultimate strong core which is made from Dyneema – the single strongest fiber known to man today. Vollebak uses Dyneema in its Indestructible range. Dyneema is supposed to be 15x stronger than steel, which basically signifies that the belt strap is only breakable if you hang more than 4 tonnes of it, which is essentially the same weight as a Hummer or 10 grizzly bears. It is a game-changer for people who need their belts to be extremely durable and strong, but also dashingly handsome.

Vollebak teamed up the powerful Dyneema strap with a COBRA® buckle which is supposed to be the strongest and safest buckle on the planet. The buckle is engineered with a patented locking mechanism, ensuring that the buckle never releases under pressure, and can tolerate 1.8 tonnes of force before it breaks apart. Every Indestructible Belt is built using 12 rows of ultra-strong bonded thread, and an engraved metal tip by Riri which features a custom anodized metal case equipped with a 3D printed latch – making it a class apart from your ordinary everyday belt, to be honest, the two cannot even be compared. The Indestructible Belt is designed to withstand the harshest of conditions!

The Indestructible Belt is crafted in France, and it completely pushes the boundaries of fashion and functionality, to create an exceedingly innovative product that we have truly never seen before. It is priced at $395 and is the ultimate accessory you have been looking for. It packs a punch with both style and safety.

The post Meet The Strongest Belt Ever Made – The Indestructible Belt By Vollebak first appeared on Yanko Design.

The limited-edition Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 Retro is inspired by the classic SGH-E700 flip phone

Posted on by

The clamshell-like Galaxy Z Flip5 is an interesting device, combining modern smartphone specs and features with a holistic design approach that heavily borrows elements of flip phones from the early 2000s. It’s also the best of its class, thanks in part to very little competition from Apple — but also because of its robust internals, like a primary 1080×2640 AMOLED display (collapsing into a 720×748 front display when closed), a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, 8 gigabytes of RAM, and a 3700 mAh battery.

As of October 30, Samsung announced a limited-edition version of the Galaxy Z Flip5, called the Galaxy Z Flip5 Retro, and it looks peculiarly like 20-year-old SGH-E700, which launched around the same time as (and was ultimately overshadowed by) the behemoth Nokia 1100. Still, as Samsung’s first mobile phone containing an antenna, the SGH-E700 was a triumph in cellphone design for its time, and it’s celebrated in the stylized Galaxy Z Flip5 Retro, which sports the original SGH-E700’s indigo blue and silver color scheme.

Designer: Samsung

The tributary Flip5 Retro also comes with an interface makeover which itself is a throwback to the SGH-E700’s stock interface, complete with the blue lettering on the Flex Window that you can even show off alongside a pixel-art animation of a city skyline punctuated by shooting stars streaming across the night sky. It’s awfully pretty looking, and it’s certainly reminiscent of 16-bit screen savers and mobile games that were playable on cell phones in the early 2000s.

It sounds like the Flip5 Retro is shipped in a package containing several extra goodies, including: “three Flipsuit cards featuring logos from different eras of Samsung’s history, a Flipsuit case and a collector card engraved with a unique serial number that will add to the product’s collectible value for purchasing customers.”

Unfortunately for those of us in the United States, there is no planned launch window for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 Retro over here. It’s also not exactly clear how “limited” the limited edition release will be, as Samsung has yet to disclose how many will be produced. You may still be lucky enough to nab one for yourself from the Samsung online store at the Flip5 Retro’s MSRP (roughly $1,240) if you’re in the UK or Australia, where shipments are set to go out on November 1 — or, if you’re in Spain, Germany, or Korea, where shipments are set to go out on November 2.

The post The limited-edition Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 Retro is inspired by the classic SGH-E700 flip phone first appeared on Yanko Design.

The New Apple M3 Chip Enables Workflows Previously Unavailable on a Laptop

Posted on by

The next generation of silicon is coming to Apple computers. Announced in an uncharacteristically late-afternoon Apple Event on October 30, the three newest Apple chips (M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max) are packed with the tiniest transistors Apple has ever stuck into its laptop and desktop computers. The newest chips, which use Apple’s groundbreaking 3nm process, are first launching with the new M3 iMac and M3 MacBook Pro, and, boy howdy, Apple is certainly giving other laptop manufacturers a run for their money in the final quarter of 2023.

Designer: Apple

Apple makes a big deal over the fact its base 10-core M3 GPU can render graphics up to 2.5x faster than a comparable M1 GPU, while the base 8-core M3 CPU gets a 50% relative boost in performance to its M1 counterpart. In terms of raw performance alone, those two figures represent a massive upgrade over a chip that released alongside new Apple computers only three years ago. That’s just the tip of the iceberg; thanks to a bevy of new capabilities unlocked by M3’s ultra-compact transistor size, the upper performance limits of the M3 family are higher than ever — meaning, if you’re an AI developer, a game designer, or a visual designer of some sort, your next primary workstation may be a new Mac running on a hyper-powerful M3 Max, armed to the teeth with a 40-core GPU, 16-core CPU, 128 gigs of high-speed RAM, and a 8 TB SSD.

On a basic level, the standard 10-core M3 GPU is an impressive component, fitted with all-new features like hardware-accelerated ray-tracing, mesh shading, and Dynamic Caching to deliver, at a minimum, “65 percent more performance” over M1-based Macs when performing rendering-heavy tasks such as gaming and 3D imaging. It’s facilitated by the M3 chip’s new unified memory architecture (which is supposed to vastly speed up RAM while boosting power efficiency) and support for up to 24 gigs of RAM by default (or up to 36 gigs for the M3 Pro, or up to 128 for the M3 Max), which all make use of the aforementioned new unified architecture. Apple says this “unlocks workflows previously not possible on a laptop, such as AI developers working with even larger transformer models with billions of parameters.”

For the average user, that’s not a huge deal on its own. Sure, games are capable of running smoother and looking prettier as a result of the new hardware, and it sounds like macOS 14 is equipped to make use of the M3 chip design to enable things like Game Mode, which deprioritizes background tasks while a game window is active. But, another big draw of the new M3 architecture is the addition of integrated AV1 decoding. Built-in AV1 support means a new M3-powered iMac or MacBook Pro can smoothly stream 4k60 video from digital streaming services without a noticeable drop in quality if the connection starts to waver.

This also has work applications. For instance, two or more M3-powered Macs communicating with one another via Screen Share should have a buttery-smooth experience, even when both Macs are working on resource-heavy tasks.

The post The New Apple M3 Chip Enables Workflows Previously Unavailable on a Laptop first appeared on Yanko Design.